Kurdish Forces need to Upgrade Weapons before Battle with ISIL

The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), is currently scrambling to get new and updated weapons added to their inventory for the upcoming fight with the ISIL. For the time being, the ISIL and the KRG have agreed to not attack one another. The agreement allows time for the KRG to get military training and upgrade their outdated weapons. The ISIL will be able to concentrate on the largest oil refinery in Baiji. There are conflicting reports about the situation in Baiji between the ISIL and Iraq security forces. Both elements claim that they are in control of the Baiji oil refinery. The ISIL has posted a black flag on top of one of the Baiji refinery buildings.

The Shia Cleric Ayatollah Sistani said that the ISIL is a threat to Sunni’s as well as the Shia population in Iraq. Sistani called for Iraqi’s to fight the Sunni extremist terrorist group ISIL and to do so within the legal framework of Iraq.

Radio Free Iraq has reported that Iraqi’s are losing faith in the Iraqi dinar and acquiring U.S. dollars over their local currency. The Iraqi dinar exchange rate has dropped sharply against the U.S. dollar in Baghdad with a rate of 1220 IQD to the dollar. It is likely that the IQD exchange rate will continue to drop against the dollar as prices for goods rise.